The air stilled and then cracked like black ice, razor-thin fractures carved themselves into existence, spraying out in geometric fractals before vanishing. The rippling air left in their wake, the only evidence of their passing. Each time a group of legionnaires passed through the impossibly tall titanic gateway that pierced the sky, the phenomena repeated. The sound of booming thunder keyed low, echoed out with each transit.

Aurelian reminisced over the sight. Recalling how he had once spent the last day of the year watching the dazzling display deep in his cups. Ever since found the grandeur of fireworks that were used to celebrate - to be a pale imitation. The work of children, playing in the all encompassing shadow of the Elders.

He felt the continuous reverberating cracks in his bones, his heart beating in symphony to their drumbeat. Long ago, Aurelian had dreamed to one day to find himself marching into the churning and rippling azure surface of the Gateway's portal without any fear or hesitation.

Decades later, he still found himself dreaming. Every time, that first step into the threshold had been one laced with hesitance. It was ironic, he knew, this fear, given that gateway travel was the safest mode of transport in existence. The worst that could happen was tripping over your feet in the swirling passageway and the laughter that was sure to come at your expense.

Fear, he had come to know, however, came and went on its own whim and all one could do was stand defiant in its approach and trembling in its wake.

Turning back from the threshold that would take him to his uncertain future, he looked back at a sight straight out of his past. Calloused hands sheltering his eyes from the murderous sun above as he scanned the horizon far in the distance.

Countless banners danced in the air like a peacock spreading its feathers as a courtship ritual to attract a mate so did the banners attract the men that called their colorful cloth home. He found his own, a sight for sore eyes further back. His heavy pack suddenly felt lighter as he walked towards the fluttering banner like a man might walk home at the end of a weary day - with a smile on his face.

It felt like a lifetime since he had been one of them, he thought, inspecting the few greenies nearby. The nervousness on their faces as evident as the myriad of scars on the veterans. Had he looked like that, once upon a time, when he first stepped forth into a Gateway?

The nervous banter, crude jokes and how they either stared at the obsidian stones of the Gateway like they would find courage within its nebulous depths or looked anywhere but at it. The tightness around their eyes, stiffness of their posture, and the spears they gripped with white knuckles. They would be fine, he knew smiling, experience would temper them all.

One way or another as it had with him.

Everyone remembered their first time, though it was after all a rite of passage within the legions of the Dawn Empire. His reminiscing was cut short as a friendly voice startled him.

"Aurelian? That you?" The tall and gaunt man cut a imposing figure, his robe fluttering in the gentle wind of the field.

Aurelian recognized that voice, how couldn't he.

"You don't recognize the man who saved your life, Orthor? How stereotypical of you Mages," he scoffed embracing his old friend in a tight hug.

"All is see is an old man too stubborn and high leveled to die. Besides, what is the military feeding you? You are all skin and bones, what happened to your muscles?"

Stepping back, Aurelian took a good look at his friend, an impressed eyebrow raised as he spied the new insignia on the ornate robes.

Grand Mage, Aurelian thought and didn't his friend look the part. All that was missing was a few decades to whiten his friends hair, and a beard and he would look like all the other Grand Mages, Aurelian had seen throughout his career.

"Look who is talking, Orthor." Aurelian quipped back, "Can you even move without using [Mana Reinforcement]? I have seen ancient mummies with more meat on their bones than you."

Truth was, Orthor looked good, strong, even. Physically he didn't looked like any recruit fresh from boot camp, and for a Mage that was saying something. Judging by the smile on his face, Orthor was well aware of that fact.

Orthor laughed heartily, "I have missed you, old friend."

"That makes one of us, at least." Aurelian joked, marveling at the ease which with they settled back into their old groove, like it hadn't been years since they last met face to face. "Now quench my curiosity, would you? What brings a mage of your caliber here?"

"Same as you, I reckon, " Orthor replied, turning to face the head of the column of legionnaires that stretched all the way off into the horizon. Half of the formation underneath the colossal shadow of the Gateway. "War. Never thought I would see the day the Empire attacked the Great Hive of Hosotera. Then again, never would I have expected the Grand Hive to attack us out of nowhere."

Aurelian nodded as he stared at the fluttering banners that were held proudly aloft everywhere. Noticing a few shift colors and patterns as orders changed last minute. None that applied to his cohort - the color was for the Mages.

They did seem to apply to Orthor as the man turned once more to face him. A slight furrow to his brows casting his softly aglow eyes in shadow.

"It is confusing, I checked the historical records when I got the orders of redeployment. They have never been to war with anyone except themselves. On the plus side, I get to experience the periphery of the Empire again, its been a while, hasn't it? We have to stop meeting each other at the outskirts."

Orthor's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Soon enough, these wont be the outskirts anymore, Aurelian."

"Emperor willing."

"The Emperor isn't willing, Aurelian, he has willed. Reality is but playing catch up to his declaration. Look around, this is not a small border skirmish."

Around them, from one horizon to the other. Vast swathes of the green fields and hills were hidden underneath a vast canopy of fabric as tents of all color stretched as far as the eye could see only split in the middle by the ever growing column of imperial might.

Aurelian had seen Fortress worlds with less legionnaires than this. A planet that had been worthless, an afterthought, irrelevant to the degree where it hadn't even been worth defending was now suffocating under the weight of the imperial war machine.

"I know, Orthor, you wouldn't have been here if it was a border skirmish. Not that anyone would have fought over this sorry excuse of a planet."

"Nor would you, Aurelian or the 413th. Regardless of its current state, watered down by fresh blood as you are after your devastation - the 413th Legion isn't one you send to a region like this. "

The banners shifted color again. The Mage, he knew from his past, would have responded immediately to his orders. The Grand Mage before him unhurriedly said his farewells. Perks of the new robe, Aurelian thought happy for his friend.

"I wasn't attached to your legion originally, I redeemed a few favors. Pulled on a few of my collogues grey nostril hairs and well here I am." Orthor continued, spreading his arms out slightly, and giving a shallow curtesy with his knees. "Come meet me after the transit and we will have a proper reunion. For now, duty calls, old friend."

"And we answer." Aurelian whispered habitually.